Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 28

Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds

Devanagari script

दन्दशूकादय: सर्पा राजन् क्रोधवशात्मजा: । इलाया भूरुहा: सर्वे यातुधानाश्च सौरसा: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

dandaśūkādayaḥ sarpā rājan krodhavaśātmajāḥ ilāyā bhūruhāḥ sarve yātudhānāś ca saurasāḥ

Translation

O King, the sons of Krodhavaśā were the serpents headed by the dandaśūka, along with other snakes and also mosquitoes and such insects. From Ilā’s womb came all creepers, trees, and plants. From Surasā’s womb were born the yātudhānas—rākṣasas and other malevolent spirits.

Synonyms

• dandaśūka-ādayaḥ: Dandaśūkas and others
• dandaśūka-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dandaśūka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa/avyaya-like ‘dandaśūka etc.’ (आदि-प्रत्ययार्थ); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sarpāḥ: serpents
• sarpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• krodhavaśa-ātmajāḥ: sons of Krodhavaśā
• krodhavaśa-ātmajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodhavaśā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘offspring of Krodhavaśā’; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ilāyāḥ: of Ilā
• ilāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhūruhāḥ: trees/plants
• bhūruhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū-ruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘earth-growing’ (plants/trees); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘bhūruhāḥ’

• yātudhānāḥ: Yātudhānas (demons)
• yātudhānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yātudhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• saurasāḥ: (offspring) of Surasā
• saurasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘offspring of Surasā’ (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Dandaśūka
• Ilā
• Sūrasa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of serpents and demonic beings?

This verse states that serpents such as those headed by Dandaśūka are born from anger, and that Yātudhānas (a demonic class) are born from Sūrasa.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī listing these births to King Parīkṣit?

In Canto 6, Chapter 6, Śukadeva explains the progeny of Dakṣa’s daughters—mapping how various species and classes of beings arise within universal creation.

How can the teaching about beings 'born of anger' be applied in modern life?

The verse links destructive outcomes with anger, reminding a practitioner to restrain krodha (wrath) through sādhana, self-control, and devotion to avoid creating harm in one’s relationships and environment.